Okeover succeeded
Richard Browne as vicar-choral and organist of
Wells Cathedral on 16 February 1619. He graduated
M.B. from
New College, Oxford, on 5 July 1633. On 2 June 1634, when master of the choristers at Wells, he was charged with "having given notice to the
vicars that there should be no
antumne sung in steede of
Nunc dimittis or
Benedictus, but only according to the forme of
common prayer", without first consulting with the
canons resident. He answered that he was commanded by the bishop to give the notice, but the dean pronounced him contumacious, and removed him from his office of vicar for a week. He appears to have married Elizabeth, daughter of John Beaumont, a member of a well-known family in Wells. John Beaumont left in his will, dated 5 March 1634, legacies to his "daughter Elizabeth and to her husband John Oker". Okeover was a writer of
fancies. Five of his pieces, together with a
pavan, all in five parts, are in
British Library Add. MS. 17786,
ff. 19–25. Another fantasia by Okeover, in five parts, is in Add. MS. 17792, f. 92. ==External links==